Veronica plant named ‘Atomic Lilac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Veronica  plant named ‘Atomic Lilac’, particularly distinguished by lilac-colored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew and rust resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Veronica hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Atomic Lilac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronicaplant botanically known as Veronica hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Atomic Lilac’. The new cultivar originated from anopen pollination in 2003 in a nursery location in Haarlem, TheNetherlands between unknown male and female Veronica hybrida plants.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollinationin 2005 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the newVeronica by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem,The Netherlands since the summer of 2008, has shown that the uniquefeatures of the Veronica are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Lilac-colored flowers;    -   2. Compact habit;    -   3. Healthy foliage; and    -   4. Good mildew and rust resistance.

Of the many commercially available Veronica cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Darwin's Blue’, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 13,070. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, TheNetherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Atomic Lilac’ differ fromplants of ‘Darwin's Blue’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers, as measured        by corolla height and diameter, than plants of ‘Darwin's Blue’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        different from plants of ‘Darwin's Blue’;    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color that is        darker than plants of ‘Darwin's Blue’; and    -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have stronger rust and mildew        resistance than plants of ‘Darwin's Blue’.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, another that issimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Purpleicious’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 17,639. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, TheNetherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Atomic Lilac’ differ fromplants of ‘Purpleicious’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers, as measured        by corolla height and diameter, than plants of ‘Purpleicious’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        different from plants of ‘Purpleicious’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color that is        darker than plants of ‘Purpleicious’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Atomic Lilac’ are similar to‘Atomic Blue’, pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.12/592,672. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, TheNetherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Atomic Lilac’ primarily differfrom plants of ‘Atomic Blue’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Atomic Lilac’.The plant was field grown for approximately 1 year in Haarlem, TheNetherlands in an outdoor nursery location. The plant was transplantedinto a container for photography purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Atomic Lilac’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Atomic Lilac’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Atomic Lilac’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Theplant history was taken in September 2009 on 1-year-old field grownplants which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperaturesbetween 14° C. and 28° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and18° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments wereused. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylightconditions.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica hybrida cultivar ‘Atomic Lilac’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Veronica hybrida.        -   Male parent.—Unknown Veronica hybrida.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cutting.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 30 days with            average soil temperature of 14° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, poorly branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial. Overall shape: Broad columnar.            High temperature tolerance: Tolerant to at least 35° C. Low            temperature tolerance: Hardy to at least USDA Zone 4.            Excellent garden performance.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 months from rooted            cutting to a finish flowering plant.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Broad, upright,            moderately vigorous.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 53.6 cm. Width: Approximately 36.5 cm. Rate of            growth: In spring, approximately 12 cm per month.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching; pinching not            required. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 8.        -   Branches.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.            Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 28.6 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.8 cm. Texture: Slightly glossy, densely            pubescent with short greenish-white hairs. Length of            pubescence: Approximately 0.25 mm. Color of young and mature            stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per stem:            Approximately 12. Form: Simple Arrangement: Opposite.            Durability to stress: High.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate with approximately 3.5            teeth per cm. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            9.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.1 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately glossy, sparsely            pubescent. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.4 mm. Color            of pubescence: N155A. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 141A with 143A and venation of 146B to 146C. Color            of lower surface of young foliage: 143A with venation of            144B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Darker than            but between 139A and 147A with venation of 146B to 146C.            Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with venation            of 144B.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Height: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Color: 144A to 144B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing            conditions with substantially continuous blooming from July            through late September in The Netherlands.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            7 days.        -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, persistent.            Fragrance: None detected. Height: Approximately 21.5 cm.            Width: Approximately 2.7 cm. Quantity of opened flowers per            inflorescence: Approximately 400 on central raceme and            approximately 125 on secondary racemes. Rate of flower            opening: Approximately 10% of the flowers open at any stage.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately a            30° angle. Length: Approximately 20.9 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Shape: Campanulate.            Aspect: Outward, turning downward with age.        -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per inflorescence:            Approximately 400 on central raceme and approximately 125 on            secondary racemes. Shape: Oblong. Length: Approximately            7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: Petals of            N82B; calyx of 144B. Rate of opening: Approximately 20% of            buds open at once, all open within approximately 7 weeks.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Campanulate. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, occasionally 5. Arrangement: Lower 45%            of each petal fused into a narrow tube. Appearance: Dull.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute.            Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm            and a wider upper petal of approximately 2.5 mm. Texture of            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface            when first and fully open: 83D to 84A and N155A at base.            Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 83D to 84A            and N155A at base.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Rotate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.5 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Ovate to            narrow ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate,            lower 25% fused. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth. Color of upper and lower surfaces of immature            sepals: 144B. Color of upper and lower surfaces of mature            sepals: 138B.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Approximately 50° angle            from vertical. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower, dorsifixed. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament length: Approximately 7.0 mm.            Anther color: 182C to 182D. Filament color: 85D. Pollen            amount: Sparse to moderate. Pollen color: 8C to 8D.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 8.5 mm. Stigma shape: Clavate. Stigma color:            N82B. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm Style color: N82C.            Ovary color: 144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew and rust resistance. No    particular resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects    noted to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Atomic Lilac’,substantially as herein shown and described.